‘Cats Corner is the official blog for the Tri-City ValleyCats, Short Season Single-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, and member of the historic New York-Penn League. 'Cats Corner consistently ranks as one of the top 50 professional blogs on the MLB.com network. With game and promotional recaps, team analysis and more, 'Cats Corner is ValleyCats fans #1 source for information.

Front Office Friday: The man behind it all … our VP/GM Rick Murphy!

HAPPY OPENING DAY!!! OK, OK – it’s Friday the 13th, there is a Full Moon expected tonight, and there is rain in the forecast. But that won’t stop me from welcoming you the 2014 Tri-City ValleyCats baseball season!

We couldn’t be more thrilled to open our 13th season here in the Capital Region. There are many exciting new things at our ballpark from new promotions to new concession areas to our AWESOME video board! If you can’t make it out this weekend, check out the rest of our schedule online at tcvalleycats.com and find a game this season to swing by “The Joe” to see it all!

On to our favorite Friday feature – Front Office Friday! With Opening Day here, we figured there was no better person to introduce you to than our Vice President & General Manager Rick Murphy. This season is Rick’s 26th in professional baseball. It’s safe to say, he’s a baseball lifer.

Rick Murphy has seen the ValleyCats win two NYPL Championships in the last four seasons, along with several Stedler Division titles in his tenure.

Rick played college ball at Boston College and shortly after began working in Minor League Baseball. He took over as GM of the Pittsfield Mets in 1989. The team changed affiliations and became the Astros, and Rick played an integral part in the move that brought the franchise to Troy.

After running the ‘Cats from 2002-2004, Rick spent 2005 as the Chief Operating Officer for DDD Baseball, Inc., a company owned by Dan Duquette, current General Manager of the Baltimore Orioles. He couldn’t stay away long and returned to run the ValleyCats.

Since, Rick was named the NYPL Executive of the Year in 2008 and is a 2011 New York-Penn League Robert F. Julian Community & Baseball Service Award winner. He currently serves as chairman of the New York-Penn League Schedule Committee and is a member of the Board of Directors for Minor League Baseball’s BIRCO (Baseball Internet Rights Corporation), and the Albany Police Athletic League. Rick is also a member of the Board of Directors for Berkshire Hills Bancorp, the parent of Berkshire Bank.

Rick has been instrumental in developing youth baseball in the area with different promotions. He’s implemented our “4 in 24″ Field Renovation project, our “Show on the Road” promotion, helping run the concession area at Clifton Park Baseball League … the list goes on and on with how much Rick has assisted with the growth of youth baseball.

As you can see, Rick does a lot for this organization and this community. One thing Rick enjoys doing most is getting to know our fans and we wanted you to get to know him as well. Here’s what Rick had to say on our FOF questionnaire…

Q) If you weren’t working for the ValleyCats, what would you be doing?
A) College Professor

Q) Who is your favorite MLB team?
A) Boston Red Sox

Q) What is your favorite sport other than baseball and who is your favorite team in that sport?
A) Hockey – Boston Bruins

Q) What are some of your hobbies?
A) Collecting Vintage Baseball Cards

Q) What’s your favorite genre of music?
A) Celtic Soul – Van Morrison

Q) What’s your favorite meal to eat?
A) Sushi

Q) What’s your favorite pet or an ideal pet?
A) Dog – Silky Terrier

Q) What’s your favorite movie?
A) The Pursuit of Happiness

A signature Rick Murphy and SouthPaw pose on the concourse!

Q) What’s been your favorite moment at “The Joe?”
A) Opening Day

Q) If you could have one super power, what would it be?
A) Cure Cancer

Q) What position would you play if you played for the ValleyCats?
A) Center Field

Q) If you could have dinner with three people, living or dead, who would they be?
A) Abraham Lincoln, Knute Rockne & Steve Jobs

Q) If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?
A) Philanthropic work

Rick, we thank you for being an incredible leader and outstanding person in the community. You’ve helped turn the Capital Region into a Baseball Region. We hope the ValleyCats are here for a long time and that you are here to oversee that!

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